The riots happened during a series of Catholic religious pilgrimages related to the Jubilee year declared by Pope Pius IX.
[1] The parade had been advertised in the Irish Canadian newspaper, which led a group of opponents to petition Mayor Francis Henry Medcalf to have the event banned.
The police attempted to separate the pilgrims and their attackers, but were briefly overwhelmed before charging the rioters with batons and seizing several firearms.
Editorials in the Mail criticized those who attacked the pilgrims as having started the riot but questioned the wisdom and tact of the Catholic organizers of the parade for the route chosen and for advertising it in the Irish Canadian.
An offshoot of the Orange Order called the Young Britons was accused of incitement by witnesses and in editorials by the Toronto Globe.